Banana-crate.



PATENTBD AUG. 6, 1907.

I. ALBBRTBLLI.

BANANA CRATE.

APPLIOATION FILED APB. 1a. 190e.

Ime/m@ 72."

I 7?/71/0 cemlrsb',

' gy ww INNOOENT ALBERTELLI, 0E CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BANANA-CRATE Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1907.

Applica-tion iled April 18,1906. Serial No. 312.399.

To all whom L may concern:

Be it known that I, INNocExT ALBERTELLI, a citizen o1' the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county oi Cook and Sta-te of Illinois` have invented certain new and useful Improvements i ri Banana-Crates, of which the following is a specilicatibn.

My invention relates to banana crates, and has for its object to provide an improved crate in which bananas may be packed t'or shipment. i`

My invention consists in the combinations and details hereinafter set t'orth and claimed.

1n the accompanying drawings-1" igure I is a transverse sectional view 0l my improved crate, showing the arts ino'erative Josition Fie. 2 is a )ersiective view showing the collapsible body portion. Figs. 3 and 4 are'perspective views of the bottom and toprings.

In the drn'wings o represents aV cylindrical Abody portion formed ol heavy paper or pasteboard or similar material. The lower end a is intnrned and secured to the body portion by any suitable tasteniwg,r means, such as eyelets c. This inturned portion forms a ledge or [lange around the inner lace ol the lower end of the body portion. The upper end ol' the body portion is folded over outwardly-as indicatedat (L2-and connected in a similar way to the body portion by eyelets e', or by any suitable fastening means. This cylindrical body portion is made from a single sheet ol' mate; rial, havingr its edges connected together in any suitable manner. I have shown outer and inner cleats ff extending from top to bottom ol' the body portion at their meeting edges, these cleats and theedges ol the body portion held between them being.; secured by nails f2, or by any suitable fastening means. 'This body portion. owingr to the character ol' the material of which it is made. is readily collapsible and may be flattened out [or the purpose ol packing and shipment of the crate.

b is a rigid ring ol wood adapted for insertion intothe body portion at its upper end, where/it lrictionally engages the inncr lacey of the body portion and forms a means tor distcudine,r and holding the upper cud of the crate in its operative positionA c isa similar rigid ringr forminglr tho bottom portion, the bottom boing lorincd by cross pieces c c'-I secured to the ringr by any lsuitable means-as shown in Fig. 3. This bottom ring is removably held in engagement with the lower inner end lace ol the body portion` and rests upon the ledge' 0r flange formed by the inturned part ol the body portion at this lower endas clearly shown in Fig. 1. By this construction, I provide a bottom portion for the crate which is considerably above the lower end of the crate.

A The lower inturned end a of the body portion forms a` protecting ring and prevents any Contact of the bananas with the floor.

Secured to the outer upper edge of the body portion are aps of flexible material d, held at their upper edges between the body portion and its overturned end portion a2 and secured in position by the rivets a which holds this overturned end ,portion in engagement with the body. These `flapslare adapted to be turned upwardly and tied together,` orming a closure l'or the crate. i f

The Operation of my improved crate will be readily understood. The rings b and c are inserted into the crate and held in engagement therewith by t'riction 'and serve to give the crate its form and hold it in shape.

By removing the rings the body portion may bo collapsed and'the crates packed for shipment in a comparatively small space.

It will be seen that I have provided a very simple and efficient crate, one that may be easily and quickly made at a minimum expense; and one which may be readily put together for use.

I claim:

1. A' banana crate, comprisingY a cylindrical collapsible body portion having its lower end turned inward and so' rnred to thel body portion. :1 removable rigid bottom por l tion ros-ting on the inlurnrd lower cud. and a rigid ring' rc- 

